How can pediatricians and parents communicate more effectively?

Answer 1

Thank for the question.

A good bedside manner works wonders for a nervous parent with a sick child. This helps them relax patient.
Encourage parents and children to write down their questions.
Let them know that you are working as a team to help their child.
Be honest and a good listener, especially for the new parents.
Do not let the insurance company or other doctors dictate how you should treat your patient. Give the parents all the information and let them decide the cost.
Keep your hand off the door knob when you finish examining the patient. This makes the parent feel rushed and insignificant.
Apologize for making them wait

Answer 2

Communication works both ways. If you have a caring pediatrician, and he sees you value his time. He/she in turn will take the time to respect your questions, and give you the time you need. It is a two way street.

The parent should always make a list of the questions they have before they call the doctor, or go to the doctor. This saves time, and the communication flows more freely. The Pediatrician will appreciate it, as their waiting room are always full, and most of the time while you are dressing the baby he/she is screaming or crying from the exam, or the shots that was administered.

The parent should always come prepared with a small pad, and pencil to be able to jot down any detailed instructions. This will avoid her having to call the doctor just in case she isn't sure of all the instructions he had given her.

Answer 3

they also be tok busy trying to get to their next appoinment that they don't tell you everything. Too often, parents leave thinking that they are stupid because they didn't understand the answer to their question or pediatricians fear giving parents too much information and overwhelming them. The best thing that parents and pediatricians can do is take more time with each other. For parents to stop assuming that their questions are stupid or not worth the doctor's time and for doctors to always ask if there are any questions and take a full minute or more of silence to show the parents that he/she will take the time to listen. I am a biologist, a human biologist and have refrained from asking a question once or twice because I thought that it was silly and would be a waste of time. I have a really good pediatrician who always takes as much time as we need but I still felt silly. Most of the time, the silly questions are either important or some needed confidence boost, a reminder that I'm not messing my kids up too much. The bottom line, as it always is with communication, is taking a little extra time to listen, even when there isn't much to listen to.

Source(s):

Mom of two (10 weeks pregnant with number three) and biologist who really doesn't know as much as she thinks she should.

Answer 4

Pediatricians and parents can communicate in a more effective manner by understanding each other.
Both parties need to be able to explain their queries.

The parents can not hold back on their questions and then be frustrated at the next visit when they're told something different. Not only do the parents need to choose the right pediatrician that meets their needs, but needs to understand that they have the right to ask questions. If the pediatrician is rushing, the parents should ask the nurses about their needs.

Pediatricians shouldn't try to rush, they need to understand that parents have the right to know what's wrong in easy to understand English. Not all parents have a medical background in which they'll understand the terms that pediatricians use. Look at it this way, maybe your next patient will complain about wait, but they need to understand that this is a doctors' office, not a fast food drive through!

Ensuring that both sides get in their equal right of passage will allow everyone to be happy. ^^
Each side needs to understand that sometimes, the other side will forget.

Answer 5

Effective communication comes from common ground. The child in question is the common ground. If the pediatrician cares about the patient, it shows.

I think if pediatricians actually took the time to listen to the parent, and to the child, instead of popping in for a moment and then just walking out without really talking to them, that would help. Parents are intelligent people, just like doctors are, and they like to be talked to in a manner that does not condescend.

My son got a bad cut in his head once, and the doctor who treated him took the time to show me how they had done the sutures, and talked to me as though I had sense, which made me feel very much a part of the treatment of my child.

Inclusion is very important. My current family doctor is the same way. He personalizes our conversation, not just being a doctor, but showing he is a human being as well. I appreciate that very much.

Thank you for asking the question, it shows you want to give the very best care you can, and that is a great start to good communication.

Answer 6

I'm so glad that you asked this question!!! I've been blessed to find a great pediatrician who communicates well and is respectful. I chose homebirth for my baby (and will again for future deliveries), and that choice, along with vaccination choices, are not always met with respect, to put it mildly. One of my main concerns (and this is the condensed version, so please take that into account) is that so many doctors come across as if they know everything, and that their's is the only way. I am VERY grateful for modern medicine and the technology that we have available (my dad has type I diabetes and would be dead w/o insulin and other medications/procedures/technology), yet I don't believe that more tests or more drugs are always the answer. But back to the original intent of this answer....
Being willing to offer more than one option (without pressure for one over the other), and being respectful of both the parents decisions, and of the parents themselves and the fact that it IS THEIR decision and their child, goes a VERY long way. I know that it's probably scary for a doctor to admit that they don't have all of the answers, or that what they've been taught may not always be the best, especially with the culture today of suing anyone who looks at you cross-eyed. I realize that doctors must protect themselves - unfortunately people don't take responsibility for their own behavior/lifestyle/decisions these days and look for someone else to blame (thus the frivolous lawsuits).
Take the time to REALLY talk to parents - this is their baby, and being respectful, taking time to listen/talk, and admitting your humaness all goes a LONG way.
Thanks for such an insightful question!

Answer 7

It depends on what you want to communicate about. I think it has a lot to do with how accessible a pediatrician makes themself to the parents. I mean, the societal role for a patient to see any doctor is make an appointment, wait forever, see the doctor for 10 minutes, and see the receptionist on the way out. I understand this is in part due to the fact that doctors are extremely busy and though it may not look like they're doing something, they are. Also what my father and aunt have taught me (dentist and head of ER in Phoenix) is that I would rather have a relaxed, rested and unhurried pediatrician examining my children rather than a stressed, over-worked and rushed doctor who may slip, miss something , prescribe them something they're deathly allergic to and end up in a worse situation than when I took them in. I think a suggestion box is sort of cliched but gosh darn it if it doesn't work!! (You also get everything on paper so there's less chance for a miscommunication.) Also, newsletters to the parents of patients would give a larger sense of community and perhaps a overall sense of personal attention, which is something that every parent enjoys. Think about it. Small chat leads to good conversations. So perhaps even little things, Anna's birthday, Tommy's baseball game... it may present the pediatrician as more of a receptacle to conversation rather than that guy in a shirt and tie who pokes my baby and goes "mm hmmm...... mm hmmm.... mm hmmm....". Perhaps have a "suggestion and comment" column where parents can write in and have their concerns/issues/questions addressed and allow other parents to see. I'm sure more than one family has the same concerns. Establishing a repor with your medical community includes the patients.

I know pediatricians are very busy - do you really think there will ever be a day when children DON'T get sick? This makes hotlines for pediatricians are very impractical. They require time and a lot of it.

Another thing is that many doctors, not just pediatricians, are becoming more and more polite and are starting to loose the "i'm-the-boss-here" attitudes. But there are still some who believe that telling you about your children and writing off your concerns as petty or stupid is going to ease your mind. Not so. It makes us less receptive to your expertise and more focused on whether or not we have a lawsuit for malpractice. Just letting you know how the mind of a concerned (admittedly, perhaps, over-concerned) parent works.

Answer 8

here is my 2 cents.
Talking to each other and it can be arrange less than 20 minutes.
e-mail each other and remember being honest for the sake of the children.
talking on a phone and 15 minutes can make a difference.
By a note or letter in case parents who have no Internet access. 42 cents can get you and your doctor communicate effectively.
Well I have 3 kids and I still working with the same doctor since my kids were born. By the way, it was 16 years ago.

Answer 9

They should discuss what they can do to the child to have a better future. There should be toys in every exam so that the parent and the pediatrician can discuss carefully while the child is playing the toys. The pediatrician should give plenty of time to the parent to have a longer discussion. My motto to this question is: Work hand in hand, for the benefit of the child.

Answer 10

Education is key! My experience with my childrens pediatrician is one of much respect. She values my concerns and solutions to many health situations. The fact that I document specific changes and/or behaviors...help me zero-in on the problem quickly and effectively. You must realize. that depending on how busy the office, it might turn the visit into a fustrating situation if you ask too many questions back to back. and so by documenting your concerns the probability of a thourough answer might not totally be answered right then and there, but the pediatrician can always place it in the file and review it at a later date. Well...depending on the urgency and concern of the health issue. Alleviating the pediatrican as well as yourself from information overload and an inaccurate response.

Answer 11

I really, really like my children's pediatrician! He knows how to talk to us "non doctors." He just let's you ask any question and he gives you an easy answer. Simple!! I believe that it is the pediatrician/doctor's job to make it as simple as possible for their patients and just to be honest with them in the beginning and to make sure that the patient is fully aware that they should not be afraid to ask any and all questions they could possibly have. Patients honestly are more intimidated by a doctor's intellect than they would ever let on. Sometimes us "littler people" need to be reminded that our doctor is a human being too!! :)

I agree with a lot of the answers above about the whole, "don't spend enough time with you" comments and the front office first impression. I did finally find all the great things about a doctor's office. I went through a lot of pediatricians with my kids, if I didn't like the doc I got them a new one until I found what I was looking for. If you do not like the doctor, get a new one! I'm glad I kept looking!! I now have a doctor who doesn't rush out of the room and the front staff are sweet and approachable and they know how to schedule appointments. You never wait more than 5 minutes even if you call that day for an appointment and...you are gonna love this one!! If you are late for your appointment, you are seen when the doctor is ready for you which means that if you have someone who is scheduled before you and they show up late (after you), you don't have to wait for them to be seen, you move up before them because you weren't late for your appointment. Isn't that cool!!!